“China and European countries are natural partners,” it said. “They firmly believe that free trade is a powerful engine for global economic growth.”

Rejecting the idea of partnership on the trade issue, one European diplomat said: “China wants the European Union to stand with Beijing against Washington, to take sides,” adding, “We won’t do it and we have told them that.”

Washington has hit Chinese and European goods with tariffs as part of President Trump’s attempt to narrow the US trade deficit with its trading partners. China has been the biggest target of Trump’s tariffs.

Last month, the White House announced that it would introduce the latest 25-percent duties on 818 items of Chinese imports worth $ 34 billion on July 6. Beijing said it has prepared reciprocal levies against American products, which will be introduced on the same day.